This is Congressman Blake Farenthold's full statement announcing his resignation on Friday, April 6. Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi, has resigned from Texas' 27th Congressional District following months of controversy over a sexual harassment settlement paid for with taxpayer funds. (Video courtesy of Office of Congressman Blake Farenthold)
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Voters cast their ballots at the Nueces County Courthouse on Monday, April 24, 2017. Their was a steady line of voters on the first day of early voting.(Photo11: Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times)Buy Photo

Early voting is nearing its end in the special election for Texas' 27th Congressional District.

As of Thursday, 6,807 people had voted in Nueces County, putting turnout at about 1.42 percent.

Early voting in the race to fill remainder of U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold's unexpired term continues through Tuesday, June 26. The winner will fill the seat for less than a year.

June 30 is election day for this special election.

Farenthold, a Republican, resigned in April after it was revealed $84,000 in taxpayer funds were used to settle a sexual harassment federal lawsuit against him filed by a former aide. The U.S. House Ethics Committee was investigating events connected with that settlement. He had initially vowed to repay the money but has since declared his lawyers advised him not to pay it back.

There are nine candidates on the ballot, including Michael Cloud and Eric Holguin, who will face off in November in the general election. Libertarian Daniel Tinus has also said he's running in November.

Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz, a Democrat, as well as his son and former state Rep. Solomon Ortiz Jr. The elder Ortiz represented District 27 for several terms before he was unseated by Farenthold.

"The 27th Congressional District of Texas deserves the leadership that will focus on the issues that are important to Texas, and more importantly - our district," a joint statement from the two reads. "Eric Holguin is someone who will protect our ports & military bases, fight for universal healthcare, a quality education for our kids, and to give our working-class families a fair shot once again."

Gov. Greg Abbott also has endorsed Cloud for the district, encouraging people to vote for the former chairman of the Victoria County Republican Party June 30.

“And as we continue to rebuild from Hurricane Harvey, we need leaders in Washington like Michael Cloud...who will advocate for the resources Texas needs to restore the communities damaged by the storm,” Abbott said in a June 21 video. “With Michael Cloud, the voters of the 27th district will be sending a proven conservative to Washington who will represent their interests & restore integrity to the office.”

With so many names on the ballot, be sure to scroll down if you don't see your candidate's name. Perez told the Caller-Times he's already had some calls about his name not being seen because voters didn't know to scroll on the voting machines' screens.

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Michael Cloud (left), Republican candidate for Congressional District 27, answers questions during a news conference following the announcement by former candidate Bech Bruun that he would support Cloud's candidacy at the Nueces County GOP Headquarters on Wednesday, May 30, 2018. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times

A picture with a white piece of paper and a question mark for Congressional District 27 stands out against other Republicans who are serving in office at the Nueces County GOP Headquarters on Wednesday, May 30, 2018. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times

Michael Cloud (left), Republican candidate for Congressional District 27, shakes hands with former candidate Bech Bruun after Brunn announced he will support Cloud's candidacy at the Nueces County GOP Headquarters on Wednesday, May 30, 2018. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times

Michael Cloud, Republican candidate for Congressional District 27, arrives at the Nueces County GOP Headquarters on Wednesday, May 30, 2018. Cloud and former candidate Bech Bruun had a joint news conference to announce that Bruun would support Cloud's candidacy. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times